Bethlehem city council’s human resources and environment committee will get the first decision on what the city’s new community and economic development director’s salary should be.

Councilwoman Karen Dolan’s suggestion to reduce Joe Kelly’s $88,540 salary by 10 percent was referred tonight to council’s human resources and environment committee. Dolan has said her suggestion is nothing personal against Kelly, but that he shouldn’t receive the same salary as the city’s more experienced department directors.

Dolan said she feels it's fair the issue have a committee hearing so it can be considered in full.

Mayor John Callahan has said he feels Kelly’s $88,540 is fair because Kelly has worked seven years in the city solicitor's office and he wants all his department directors to make the same amount.